John 12:34–37 The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?” Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them. Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him.

On this Wednesday of Holy Week we look again to what John recorded in chapter 12 of his Gospel. There were those in the crowd that were simply asking questions, others who were challenging Jesus. Some were already His followers, others wanted to be but did not want to do so openly for fear of the Pharisees and the Jewish authorities. And there were those who were looking for holes in His story, trying to discredit Him. So how does Jesus respond? He knows better than to try to argue with them. He simply affirms who He is and why He had come.

“You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light.”

This was not the first time Jesus used this imagery.

John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

And John the writer of this Gospel, used the same language in his introduction of Jesus as the beginning of his account:

John 1:4–5 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

Jesus came to shine the light of God’s Word, which tells us of His love and mercy and grace and forgiveness. That light is still shining today, pointing us to the one who was lifted up to pay for the sins of the world, offering life and salvation to anyone who will believe in Him.

This reading ends by telling us there were many who would not believe in Him. The same is true today. But there is still time. That is why we must continue to let His light shine through us. Jesus told us as much:

Matthew 5:14–16 “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.